Outcomes for December 2022

Residential summary process: Outcomes Report This report examines cases filed at least one year before reading, for which outcomes were largely known. Search Period Start: 2022-12-01 Search Period End: 2022-12-31 Earliest Case: 2022-12-01 Latest Case: 2022-12-30 Total Cases: 3511 Total Transfers: 68 -- High-level take-aways: Percentage of landlords for whom attorney is optional: 24.5% Of those, percentage pro se: 43.0% Most common cause: Non-payment Least stable municipality/neighborhood: Florence Least stable with 10+ filings: Oxford Least stable with 100+ filings: Springfield Least stable county: Hampden Cases per day: 117 Housing crisis baseline max cases per day (UCL): 130 Housing crisis baseline min cases per day (LCL): 44 The number of filings this period is not statistically different from the pre-pandemic housing crisis baseline. -- Courts (n) Count Percent northeast 664 18.9% western 565 16.1% eastern 541 15.4% central 530 15.1% southeast 419 11.9% metro_south 331 9.4% malden district 45 1.3% lynn district 35 1.0% pittsfield district 24 0.7% quincy district 24 0.7% lowell district 23 0.7% somerville district 23 0.7% lawrence district 20 0.6% northern berkshire district 20 0.6% fall river district 19 0.5% chelsea district 17 0.5% attleboro district 16 0.5% cambridge district 16 0.5% haverhill district 15 0.4% bmc west roxbury 13 0.4% salem district 11 0.3% brockton district 10 0.3% waltham district 10 0.3% chicopee district 9 0.3% fallmouth district 9 0.3% barnstable district 8 0.2% peabody district 8 0.2% gloucester district 7 0.2% woburn district 7 0.2% framingham district 6 0.2% new bedford district 6 0.2% wrentham district 5 0.1% concord district 4 0.1% orleans district 4 0.1% springfield district 4 0.1% bmc dorchester 3 0.1% bmc east boston 3 0.1% newburyport district 3 0.1% palmer district 3 0.1% plymouth district 3 0.1% stoughton district 3 0.1% bmc brighton 2 0.1% bmc central 2 0.1% bmc roxbury 2 0.1% milford district 2 0.1% nantucket district 2 0.1% newton district 2 0.1% taunton district 2 0.1% ayer district 1 0.0% bmc charlestown 1 0.0% dedham district 1 0.0% eastern hampshire district 1 0.0% edgartown district 1 0.0% fitchburg district 1 0.0% greenfield district 1 0.0% holyoke district 1 0.0% ipswich district 1 0.0% southern berkshire district 1 0.0% westfield district 1 0.0% Party Type (n) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 2652 10 Natural Person 859 3501 Total 3511 3511 (%) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 75.5% 0.3% Natural Person 24.5% 99.7% Total 100.0% 100.0% Plaintiff Representation (n) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 2620 32 2652 Optional 490 369 859 Total 3110 401 3511 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 74.6% 0.9% 75.5% Optional 14.0% 10.5% 24.5% Total 88.6% 11.4% 100.0% Defendant Representation Note: Limited Assistance Representation should be reflected here. Tenancy preservation or other social services may not be reflected. (n) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 2 8 10 Optional 225 3276 3501 Total 227 3284 3511 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 0.1% 0.2% 0.3% Optional 6.4% 93.3% 99.7% Total 6.5% 93.5% 100.0% Number of Adults in Households Count Percent 0 111 3.2% 1 2440 69.5% 2 783 22.3% 3 130 3.7% 4 37 1.1% 5 7 0.2% 6 1 0.0% 10 2 0.1% Total 3511 100.0% Note: Households may appear with zero adults due to clerical delay entering known defendants, identity protection obscuring known defendants (e.g., 42 USC Sections 13701 through 1404 Violence Against Women Act), or no adult defendants (e.g., abandonment of minors). Initiating Action Count Percent Non-payment 2512 71.5% Cause 503 14.3% No Fault 461 13.1% Foreclosure 34 1.0% Unknown/Other 1 0.0% Rate per 100,000 Municipality Residents Count Florence 738 7 Buzzards Bay 233 8 Oxford 204 28 Truro 199 4 Springfield 192 294 Chestnut Hill 188 4 North Adams 182 25 Southbridge 161 27 North Truro 149 3 Hinsdale 147 3 Thorndike 144 1 Leyden 140 1 West Wareham 138 3 Fall River 126 112 Greenfield 126 22 Lynn 126 114 Lawrence 124 95 Chicopee 122 68 Worcester 121 220 Colrain 119 2 Lowell 119 127 Pittsfield 118 53 Holyoke 112 45 Dorchester 110 102 New Bedford 108 103 Marlborough 106 41 Chelsea 105 37 Webster 101 17 Whitinsville 100 7 Hyannis 99 14 Middleborough 99 23 Norwood 97 28 Plainville 96 8 Dennis Port 94 3 Everett 93 39 Cheshire 92 3 Fitchburg 91 37 Haverhill 88 54 Randolph 87 28 Gloucester 86 25 Revere 86 45 West Bridgewater 86 6 Beverly 83 33 East Wareham 82 18 Stoughton 81 22 Sunderland 81 3 Newton Center 77 3 Taunton 76 43 Westborough 76 14 Marshfield 75 19 Quincy 75 70 Brockton 74 70 North Andover 74 21 Turners Falls 73 3 Salem 72 30 Salisbury 72 6 East Falmouth 69 4 Roslindale 69 20 Malden 67 40 Peabody 66 34 Charlestown 65 11 Framingham 65 45 Mattapan 63 23 Westhampton 62 1 Bridgewater 60 16 Hyde Park 59 20 Allston 58 17 Brookfield 58 2 Jamaica Plain 58 22 Roxbury 58 35 Teaticket 58 1 Franklin 56 18 Mansfield 56 13 West Yarmouth 56 3 Gardner 54 11 Leverett 54 1 West Brookfield 54 2 Bondsville 53 1 Baldwinville 52 1 Buckland 52 1 Cambridge 52 55 Oakham 52 1 Vineyard Haven 52 1 Rockland 51 9 Stockbridge 51 1 Millis 50 4 Ware 50 5 Maynard 49 5 Saugus 48 13 Foxborough 47 8 Waltham 47 29 West Townsend 47 1 Woburn 47 18 Canton 46 10 East Taunton 46 3 Groveland 46 3 Avon 45 2 Bedford 45 6 Ipswich 45 6 West Dennis 45 1 Melrose 44 12 Seekonk 43 6 Bellingham 42 7 Great Barrington 42 3 Chelmsford 41 14 Braintree 39 14 Indian Orchard 39 4 Somerville 39 30 South Easton 39 4 Attleborough 38 17 Hadley 38 2 Billerica 37 15 Easthampton 37 6 Medford 37 21 Brighton 36 16 Swampscott 36 5 Adams 35 3 Berlin 34 1 Leominster 34 14 Pocasset 34 1 Rowley 34 2 South Hadley 34 6 South Yarmouth 34 4 Three Rivers 34 1 Westfield 34 14 Dorchester Center 33 31 Hopedale 33 2 Lee 33 2 Fiskdale 32 1 Lanesborough 32 1 Milford 32 9 West Roxbury 32 10 Watertown 31 10 West Springfield 31 9 Wilmington 31 7 Amesbury 30 5 Sheffield 30 1 Hull 29 3 Methuen 29 14 Nahant 29 1 Nantucket 29 3 North Hatfield 29 1 Burlington 28 7 Dedham 28 7 East Sandwich 28 1 Essex 28 1 Jefferson 28 1 Lakeville 28 3 Pembroke 28 5 Rockport 28 2 Andover 27 9 Sagamore Beach 27 1 South Dennis 27 1 Weymouth 27 15 Ayer 26 2 Athol 25 3 Feeding Hills 25 3 Orange 25 2 Spencer 25 3 Williamstown 25 2 East Boston 24 10 Medfield 24 3 Natick 24 8 Palmer 24 3 Dracut 23 7 Acton 22 5 Clinton 22 3 Danvers 22 6 Holliston 22 3 Townsend 22 2 East Bridgewater 21 3 Mashpee 21 3 North Brookfield 21 1 Northborough 21 3 Norton 21 4 Belchertown 20 3 Bolton 20 1 Hudson 20 4 Marion 20 1 North Attleborough 20 6 Rochester 19 1 Warren 19 1 Westport 19 3 Winchendon 19 2 Abington 18 3 Auburn 18 3 Hingham 18 4 Holbrook 18 2 Ludlow 18 4 Rochdale 18 2 South Barre 18 1 Carver 17 2 Dover 17 1 Mendon 17 1 Southampton 17 1 Tewksbury 17 5 Tyngsborough 17 2 Arlington 16 7 Wakefield 16 4 Amherst 15 6 Lincoln 15 1 Roxbury Crossing 15 9 East Weymouth 14 8 Plymouth 14 8 Wilbraham 14 2 Cohasset 13 1 Upton 13 1 West Boylston 13 1 Westford 13 3 Boston 12 79 Fairhaven 12 2 North Grafton 12 1 Rutland 12 1 Newburyport 11 2 Scituate 11 2 Somerset 11 2 South Boston 11 4 South Dartmouth 11 4 South Weymouth 11 6 Sutton 11 1 Winthrop 11 2 Agawam 10 3 Northampton 10 3 Hanson 9 1 Leicester 9 1 Lunenburg 9 1 Norwell 9 1 Stoneham 9 2 Wareham 9 2 Wrentham 9 1 Belmont 8 2 Dudley 8 1 Groton 8 1 North Dartmouth 8 2 Pepperell 8 1 Reading 8 2 Shrewsbury 8 3 Walpole 8 2 Charlton 7 1 Medway 7 1 Millbury 7 1 North Easton 7 1 Ashland 6 1 Duxbury 6 1 East Longmeadow 6 1 Needham 6 2 North Reading 6 1 Northbridge 6 1 Westwood 6 1 Whitman 6 1 Concord 5 1 Holden 5 1 Marblehead 5 1 Sharon 5 1 Sudbury 5 1 E. Boston 4 2 Sandwich 4 1 Winchester 4 1 Brookline 3 2 Lexington 3 1 Milton 3 1 Needham Heights 3 1 Newton Lower Falls 1 1 (not given) 0 15 span 0 1 Rate per 100,000 residents based on 2010 census. Municipalities do not appear if no evictions filed. Where neighborhoods are commonly recognized as municipalities, data appears under the neighborhood rather than the legal entity (e.g., "Roxbury" is separate from "Boston".) Where municipalities have alternate spellings (e.g., Marlboro for Marlborough), totals appear under the long form. Efforts are made to correct clerical errors in the court database, but clerical errors may appear. Rate per 100,000 County Renter Households Count Hampden 637 453 Berkshire 601 97 Plymouth 474 205 Essex 438 482 Bristol 395 325 Worcester 389 434 Franklin 331 35 Norfolk 326 278 Barnstable 274 53 Middlesex 254 593 Suffolk 250 495 Hampshire 222 41 Nantucket 85 3 Dukes 24 1 Rate per 100,000 renter households based on 2019 ACS. Counties appear even if no evictions filed. OUTCOMES Concluded cases are 'disposed'. Not all cases were disposed at time of reading. Cases are read approximately 18 months after filing. Court Record Reads This Report Reads Stipulation of Dismissal Dismissed Voluntary Dismissal Dismissed Dismissal Dismissed Agreement for Judgment Mediated Agreement Mediated Judgment by Default Defaulted Findings Heard Order Heard Disposed Heard (unrecognized) Other Dismissals: Stipulations of dismissal are not legally the same as voluntary dismissals, but both are treated here as scenarios in which either money has been paid or cause cured. Mediation: Agreements are not legally the same as agreements for judgment, but both are treated here as mediations in which a tenancy may be preserved; judgment or execution may enter thereafter, looked at separately. Tenancy preservation program is generally not visible, may influence either mediation or dismissal. Some disposed cases may have a judgment entered. Judgments may be for money only, money and possession, or possession only. Some judgments for possession may result in an execution. Dispositions Count Percentage Disposed 3134 89.3% Ongoing/Error 377 10.7% Cases not yet disposed were either ongoing at time of reading or left open due to clerical error only. Note that agreements for judgment may not all be filed properly, and that mediations may be undercounted. By outcome, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Mediated 1237 39.5% Dismissed 1059 33.8% Defaulted 705 22.5% Heard 132 4.2% Other 1 0.0% Total 3134 100.0% Outcome by reason: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 90 92 179 41 1 Foreclosure 5 14 10 2 0 No Fault 108 89 234 13 0 Non-payment 856 510 814 76 0 Unknown/Other 0 0 0 0 0 Outcome by reason, as a percent of disposed cases: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 2.9% 2.9% 5.7% 1.3% 0.0% Foreclosure 0.2% 0.4% 0.3% 0.1% 0.0% No Fault 3.4% 2.8% 7.5% 0.4% 0.0% Non-payment 27.3% 16.3% 26.0% 2.4% 0.0% Unknown/Other 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Judgments The financial obligation of one party to another, net of counterclaims. Judgments recorded for the plaintiff may be lower than total eviction costs (e.g., moving and storage often not included). Judgments may not be ordered paid if the debtor receives any form of public assistance. Otherwise, judgments are enforceable any time in the 20 years after issuance. Judgments of small amounts typically reflect court filing fees rather than rent arrears. Mediated agreements for judgment are judgments; otherwise mediated agreements are not recorded. Amounts in excess of 100% of cases disposed indicate a judgment was inferred from the docket history but no dollar amount was entered and the case was not yet disposed. Count Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed Judgment entered 1260 40.2% 35.9% Judgment inferred 276 8.8% 7.9% No judgment 1598 51.0% 45.5% Total 3134 100.0% 43.7% Judgments by reason, where dollar figures are known, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std Dev Total Cause 184 5.9% 0 44,959 3,870 7,199 712,119 Foreclosure 14 0.4% 2 3,897 463 954 6,494 No fault 134 4.3% 0 23,628 4,911 5,520 658,138 Non-payment 928 29.6% 0 63,993 7,687 7,767 7,133,928 Subtotal 1260 40.2% 0 63,993 6,754 7,610 8,510,680 Judgments by outcome, where dollar figures are known, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std dev Total Dismissed 110 3.5% 0 24,609 4,646 4,954 511,093 Defaulted 519 16.6% 0 63,993 7,422 8,587 3,852,485 Mediated 589 18.8% 0 46,906 6,578 7,060 3,874,526 Heard 41 1.3% 0 22,814 6,622 6,740 271,536 Other 1 0.0% 1,038 1,038 1,038 0 1,038 Subtotal 1260 40.2% 0 63,993 6,754 7,610 8,510,680 By prevailing party, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed defendant 4 0.3% 0.1% 0.1% plaintiff 1329 86.5% 42.4% 37.9% unknown 203 13.2% 6.5% 5.8% Total 1536 100.0% 49.0% 43.7% Judgments All Cases: Count: 1260 Range: 0.000 - 63993.950; Mean: 6754.508; Median: 4426.595; Stddev: 7613.237 Percentiles: 90th: 15952.310; 95th: 21102.310; 99th: 35325.060 0.000 - 7.129: 1 | 7.129 - 160.708: 3 | 160.708 - 437.161: 160 ###################### 437.161 - 1186.233: 75 ########## 1186.233 - 3215.906: 242 ################################# 3215.906 - 8715.474: 391 ##################################################### 8715.474 - 23617.008: 305 ######################################### 23617.008 - 63993.950: 47 ###### Judgments By Reason Cause: Count: 184 Range: 0.000 - 44959.190; Mean: 3870.216; Median: 258.545; Stddev: 7219.615 Percentiles: 90th: 10761.000; 95th: 16526.820; 99th: 41216.170 0.000 - 134.337: 1 # 134.337 - 256.972: 68 ##################################################### 256.972 - 490.733: 4 ### 490.733 - 936.317: 6 ##### 936.317 - 1785.665: 9 ####### 1785.665 - 3404.652: 18 ############## 3404.652 - 6490.681: 19 ############### 6490.681 - 12373.116: 21 ################ 12373.116 - 23585.916: 9 ####### 23585.916 - 44959.190: 6 ##### Foreclosure: Count: 14 Range: 2.000 - 3897.430; Mean: 463.884; Median: 227.250; Stddev: 990.842 Percentiles: 90th: 328.800; 95th: 3897.430; 99th: 3897.430 2.000 - 5.145: 1 ####### 5.145 - 220.504: 4 ########################### 220.504 - 452.690: 8 ##################################################### 452.690 - 3897.430: 1 ####### No Fault: Count: 134 Range: 0.000 - 23628.330; Mean: 4911.478; Median: 3119.555; Stddev: 5541.091 Percentiles: 90th: 13351.920; 95th: 16650.700; 99th: 22006.530 0.000 - 234.311: 34 ##################################################### 234.311 - 391.704: 9 ############## 391.704 - 1092.735: 1 ## 1092.735 - 1824.304: 7 ########### 1824.304 - 3045.201: 10 ################ 3045.201 - 5082.721: 21 ################################# 5082.721 - 8483.084: 18 ############################ 8483.084 - 14157.856: 20 ############################### 14157.856 - 23628.330: 10 ################ Non-payment: Count: 928 Range: 0.000 - 63993.950; Mean: 7687.423; Median: 5635.650; Stddev: 7771.756 Percentiles: 90th: 17245.320; 95th: 21588.280; 99th: 39665.670 0.000 - 160.356: 1 | 160.356 - 312.683: 27 ###### 312.683 - 608.815: 22 ##### 608.815 - 1184.510: 52 ############ 1184.510 - 2303.687: 114 ########################### 2303.687 - 4479.419: 177 ######################################### 4479.419 - 8709.146: 227 ##################################################### 8709.146 - 16931.933: 203 ############################################### 16931.933 - 32917.417: 84 #################### 32917.417 - 63993.950: 12 ### Judgments By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 110 Range: 0.000 - 24609.990; Mean: 4646.308; Median: 2965.270; Stddev: 4977.148 Percentiles: 90th: 12050.860; 95th: 14895.990; 99th: 23628.330 0.000 - 145.650: 1 ### 145.650 - 258.112: 13 ################################# 258.112 - 456.819: 1 ### 456.819 - 807.907: 8 #################### 807.907 - 1428.235: 9 ####################### 1428.235 - 2524.275: 17 ########################################### 2524.275 - 4460.838: 21 ##################################################### 4460.838 - 7882.497: 15 ###################################### 7882.497 - 13928.130: 18 ############################################# 13928.130 - 24609.990: 6 ############### Defaulted: Count: 519 Range: 0.000 - 63993.950; Mean: 7422.900; Median: 5101.100; Stddev: 8595.933 Percentiles: 90th: 17207.940; 95th: 24899.230; 99th: 41216.170 0.000 - 295.199: 74 ################################ 295.199 - 537.244: 3 # 537.244 - 977.081: 10 #### 977.081 - 1776.341: 45 ################### 1776.341 - 3228.733: 52 ###################### 3228.733 - 5867.978: 87 ##################################### 5867.978 - 10663.937: 124 ##################################################### 10663.937 - 19379.014: 76 ################################ 19379.014 - 35215.800: 27 ############ 35215.800 - 63993.950: 10 #### Mediated: Count: 589 Range: 0.000 - 46906.140; Mean: 6578.143; Median: 4310.540; Stddev: 7066.573 Percentiles: 90th: 15653.770; 95th: 20497.210; 99th: 34905.490 0.000 - 6.880: 1 | 6.880 - 141.813: 2 # 141.813 - 374.129: 64 #################### 374.129 - 984.353: 37 ########### 984.353 - 2587.235: 90 ############################ 2587.235 - 6797.536: 171 ##################################################### 6797.536 - 17856.768: 159 ################################################# 17856.768 - 46906.140: 48 ############### Heard: Count: 41 Range: 0.000 - 22814.810; Mean: 6622.841; Median: 5042.690; Stddev: 6824.729 Percentiles: 90th: 19061.840; 95th: 20533.380; 99th: 22814.810 0.000 - 321.453: 3 ####################### 321.453 - 829.857: 1 ######## 829.857 - 2139.850: 5 ###################################### 2139.850 - 3435.499: 3 ####################### 3435.499 - 5515.278: 3 ####################### 5515.278 - 8853.745: 7 ##################################################### 8853.745 - 14212.662: 6 ############################################# 14212.662 - 22814.810: 6 ############################################# Executions A levy of execution is a forced (court ordered) move-out, what is commonly meant by "eviction". If an execution is requested but not issued, the court has denied the landlord's request. If an execution is issued but not levied, the renters have left on their own. If an execution is levied, the renters and their belongings were removed per the move-and-store laws. Possession of the housing was returned to the owner. It is not possible to know from court records whether belongings were stored in a licensed and bonded warehouse (renter has not yet obtained new housing) or delivered per the renter's instructions (renter has obtained new housing). The landlord customarily pays for the cost of moving and storage. Executions are considered levied if a return of service appears in the record. Executions for possession only must be returned to the court even if not actually served. Executions for money may be kept (not returned) for attempts to collect. Percentages of judgments in excess of 100% indicate that the judgment for one or more cases was not officially recorded when the record was examined, or was recorded ambiguously. Count Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed Requested 1259 82.0% 40.2% 35.9% Issued 959 62.4% 30.6% 27.3% Levied 208 13.5% 6.6% 5.9% Levied by reason: Count Percentage of Levied Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed Cause 30 14.4% 2.0% 1.0% 0.9% Foreclosure 9 4.3% 0.6% 0.3% 0.3% No Fault 28 13.5% 1.8% 0.9% 0.8% Non-payment 141 67.8% 9.2% 4.5% 4.0% Unknown/Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Reasons 208 100.0% 13.5% 6.6% 5.9% Read as X% of cases filed are levied for nonpayment, for example. Levied by outcome: Count Percentage of Levied Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed Dismissed 20 9.6% 1.3% 0.6% 0.6% Defaulted 104 50.0% 6.8% 3.3% 3.0% Mediated 82 39.4% 5.3% 2.6% 2.3% Heard 2 1.0% 0.1% 0.1% 0.1% Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Outcomes 208 100.0% 13.5% 6.6% 5.9% Read as X% of cases filed are levied following default, for example. Conditional probabilities: 'Given a case is about X, what are the odds of a forced move-out?' Levies Filings Percentage Chance Foreclosure 9 34 26.5% No Fault 28 461 6.1% Cause 30 503 6.0% Non-payment 141 2512 5.6% Unknown/Other 0 1 0.0% Percentage chance is not intended to be summed across reasons. Conditional probabilities: 'Given a case ends with X, what are the odds of a forced move-out?' Levies Filings Percentage Chance Defaulted 104 705 14.8% Mediated 82 1237 6.6% Dismissed 20 1059 1.9% Heard 2 132 1.5% Other 0 1 0.0% Percentage chance is not intended to be summed across outcomes. Causality cannot be inferred from this data (e.g., did mediation prevent a levy? or was mediation avoided because one party assumed a levy was inevitable?). Court Duration for Disposed Cases (days) Nothing leading up to the filing of the summary process case is considered. Nothing following the summary process case is considered. Excludes grace period, notice period, and entry delays. Excludes execution and appeal period, if any. Actual eviction duration will be at least 40 days longer than indicated for a 30 day notice to quit and 10 day appeal period. Zero may indicate either 0 or no data, see histogram below. (days) Shortest Longest Average Std Dev Cause 2 567 122 116 Non-payment 0 564 106 101 No Fault 2 671 98 103 Foreclosure 35 353 104 92 Unknown/Other 0 0 0 0 All Reasons 0 671 107 104 (days) Shortest Longest Average Std Dev Dismissed 1 562 91 88 Defaulted 17 564 100 96 Mediated 0 671 122 112 Heard 2 527 132 147 Other 0 0 0 0 All Outcomes 0 671 107 104 All Cases: Count: 3134 Range: 0.000 - 671.000; Mean: 107.292; Median: 71.000; Stddev: 104.057 Percentiles: 90th: 218.000; 95th: 364.000; 99th: 520.000 0.000 - 2.578: 5 | 2.578 - 5.402: 2 | 5.402 - 10.453: 21 # 10.453 - 19.491: 50 ## 19.491 - 35.661: 232 ########### 35.661 - 64.589: 1142 ##################################################### 64.589 - 116.346: 837 ####################################### 116.346 - 208.943: 503 ####################### 208.943 - 374.608: 189 ######### 374.608 - 671.000: 152 ####### By Reason Cause: Count: 403 Range: 2.000 - 567.000; Mean: 122.114; Median: 81.000; Stddev: 116.120 Percentiles: 90th: 282.000; 95th: 425.000; 99th: 541.000 2.000 - 4.068: 1 | 4.068 - 7.562: 2 # 7.562 - 13.464: 3 # 13.464 - 23.435: 12 ###### 23.435 - 40.280: 30 ############## 40.280 - 68.736: 112 #################################################### 68.736 - 116.809: 114 ##################################################### 116.809 - 198.023: 64 ############################## 198.023 - 335.222: 36 ################# 335.222 - 567.000: 29 ############# Non-payment: Count: 2256 Range: 0.000 - 564.000; Mean: 106.370; Median: 72.500; Stddev: 101.733 Percentiles: 90th: 212.000; 95th: 353.000; 99th: 508.000 0.000 - 2.517: 2 | 2.517 - 5.183: 2 | 5.183 - 9.873: 10 # 9.873 - 18.118: 45 ### 18.118 - 32.615: 159 ############ 32.615 - 58.107: 714 ##################################################### 58.107 - 102.930: 599 ############################################ 102.930 - 181.745: 429 ################################ 181.745 - 320.327: 166 ############ 320.327 - 564.000: 129 ########## No Fault: Count: 444 Range: 2.000 - 671.000; Mean: 98.694; Median: 59.000; Stddev: 103.942 Percentiles: 90th: 203.000; 95th: 318.000; 99th: 528.000 2.000 - 4.154: 2 # 4.154 - 14.212: 1 | 14.212 - 25.135: 9 ### 25.135 - 43.900: 83 ######################## 43.900 - 76.138: 182 ##################################################### 76.138 - 131.524: 86 ######################### 131.524 - 226.677: 42 ############ 226.677 - 390.151: 19 ###### 390.151 - 671.000: 20 ###### Foreclosure: Count: 31 Range: 35.000 - 353.000; Mean: 104.806; Median: 71.000; Stddev: 92.209 Percentiles: 90th: 288.000; 95th: 335.000; 99th: 353.000 35.000 - 44.245: 4 ############################## 44.245 - 55.865: 7 ##################################################### 55.865 - 70.468: 4 ############################## 70.468 - 88.822: 7 ##################################################### 88.822 - 111.889: 2 ############### 111.889 - 140.881: 2 ############### 140.881 - 223.111: 1 ######## 223.111 - 353.000: 4 ############################## By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 1059 Range: 1.000 - 562.000; Mean: 91.418; Median: 62.000; Stddev: 88.462 Percentiles: 90th: 183.000; 95th: 287.000; 99th: 469.000 1.000 - 2.515: 3 # 2.515 - 5.179: 2 | 5.179 - 9.861: 11 ## 9.861 - 18.091: 40 ####### 18.091 - 32.556: 119 #################### 32.556 - 57.982: 316 ##################################################### 57.982 - 102.673: 282 ############################################### 102.673 - 181.227: 176 ############################## 181.227 - 319.303: 72 ############ 319.303 - 562.000: 38 ###### Defaulted: Count: 705 Range: 17.000 - 564.000; Mean: 100.196; Median: 65.000; Stddev: 96.624 Percentiles: 90th: 190.000; 95th: 323.000; 99th: 520.000 17.000 - 24.407: 9 ### 24.407 - 34.861: 15 #### 34.861 - 49.618: 159 ############################################ 49.618 - 70.447: 190 ##################################################### 70.447 - 99.846: 145 ######################################## 99.846 - 141.344: 75 ##################### 141.344 - 199.917: 47 ############# 199.917 - 282.592: 23 ###### 282.592 - 399.286: 14 #### 399.286 - 564.000: 28 ######## Mediated: Count: 1237 Range: 0.000 - 671.000; Mean: 122.269; Median: 84.000; Stddev: 112.162 Percentiles: 90th: 262.000; 95th: 419.000; 99th: 528.000 0.000 - 4.154: 1 | 4.154 - 14.212: 2 | 14.212 - 25.135: 23 ### 25.135 - 43.900: 143 #################### 43.900 - 76.138: 388 ##################################################### 76.138 - 131.524: 323 ############################################ 131.524 - 226.677: 203 ############################ 226.677 - 390.151: 85 ############ 390.151 - 671.000: 68 ######### Heard: Count: 132 Range: 2.000 - 527.000; Mean: 132.818; Median: 74.000; Stddev: 147.475 Percentiles: 90th: 462.000; 95th: 481.000; 99th: 523.000 2.000 - 4.031: 1 ## 4.031 - 7.438: 1 ## 7.438 - 13.151: 2 ### 13.151 - 22.732: 8 ############ 22.732 - 38.799: 13 #################### 38.799 - 65.747: 34 ##################################################### 65.747 - 110.939: 28 ############################################ 110.939 - 186.729: 19 ############################## 186.729 - 313.835: 7 ########### 313.835 - 527.000: 19 ############################## -- Data Sources (report errors to hello@masslandlords.net): County Data Households Percent Renters Barnstable 96,509 20.0% Berkshire 53,792 30.0% Bristol 220,528 37.3% Dukes 18,146 22.6% Essex 297,898 36.9% Franklin 30,927 34.1% Hampden 179,970 39.5% Hampshire 60,002 30.7% Middlesex 612,366 38.1% Nantucket 11,399 30.8% Norfolk 269,717 31.6% Plymouth 191,041 22.6% Suffolk 309,945 63.7% Worcester 316,162 35.2% County Households: 2019 ACS TableID S1101 County Households and Renters, Dukes and Nantucket: https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/dukescountymassachusetts County Households and Renters, Large Counties: https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=S11&g=0400000US25.050000&d=ACS%201-Year%20Estimates%20Subject%20Tables&tid=ACSST1Y2019.S1101&hidePreview=true Dukes County Renters: https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/dukescountymassachusetts Nantucket County Renters: https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/nantucketcountymassachusetts -- Methodology Publicly available records at MassCourts.org are read fully manually at two intervals: 1.) For a filings report, once within approximately one week of filing; 2.) For an outcomes report, once again approximately 12 to 18 months after filing. Cases are searched by 'case type' = 'summary process', party type = 'plaintiff' within date ranges, typically weekly. MassCourts.org displays matches, not cases. X plaintiffs on a single case result in X separate matches. Cases are manually de-duplicated. Where the number of matches exceeds the number displayed (e.g., 'Displaying 100 of 257 total matches.'), date ranges are reduced until all cases may be viewed. If the date range cannot be reduced (i.e., is one day) but matches still exceed the display limit of 100, then two additional passes are taken. First, municipalities are filtered in stages. Second, to capture cases with no municipality entered, the search switches from 'case type' to 'case number', guessing the missing numbers assuming serialized entry. This method results in 'matches' reconciled to case counts. This effort costs more than 1 FTE. Summary spreadsheets are produced by copying exactly what is read. The spreadsheets are processed using proprietary software. Repeated analyses of local spreadsheets does not burden the MassCourts servers. The software is developed using best practices for revision control and regression testing. Limitations: Data are snapshots. As such, we cannot track individual cases over time or produce real-time reports. MassLandlords does not have access to court databases beyond what is published in human readable form at MassCourts.org. As of this report, MassLandlords staff were not considering information available to attorneys (e.g., the contents of notices, discovery, evidence, etc.) but not available to the general public. All data presented here are readily verifiable at MassCourts.org without special permission. Information is not independently verified outside of the court record. For instance, clerical errors in address, omissions of a defendant, etc. are not readily verifiable. As this process matures, reporting algorithms may change. Transfers are counted as new cases. Clerical differences between original case and transfer (e.g., middle initial included then dropped; defendant dropped on transfer; street address spelling changed) as well as the potential for indefinite circular transferring (e.g., foreclosure cases moving between housing, land, and/or superior courts) make it very difficult to programmatically identify continuing matters. Methodology changes: 2022-03: Where docket history shows judgment and/or execution, but case has not been disposed, infer judgment and/or execution. 2022-05: Correct counting error in 'By prevailing party' section where agreement for judgment renders prevailing party unknown. Rows now sum to total. 2023-01: We now report dispositions on the basis of the last disposition found in a docket. Previously we were using a prioritized keyword match, which produced inaccurate results for complex cases. -- When Citing This Work, Please Credit: MassLandlords, Inc. Available online at https://masslandlords.net/policy/eviction-data/.